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Post by metaldancer on Aug 25, 2015 12:17:08 GMT
Here's a little back story, gotten from a friend of an acquaintance...
Dad works for a company dealing in oil and gas production. He has a project going in the UK and took his three kids and nanny with him. (mom is out of the picture). The youngest son, who is 3 and has mild Down Syndrome, isn't feeling well and Dad takes him to hospital in London. Dad is given the diagnosis of "blood cancer." Dad is saying that the hospital will not perform whatever the necessary surgery is until X amount of money is paid. So apparently this child has been given palliative treatment until X amount of money was raised for the necessary treatment. I know nothing about the health care system in other countries, so I find it hard to believe that a child would be allowed to suffer until a satisfactory payment arrangement was made. Could someone enlighten me please.
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Deleted
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May 11, 2024 11:30:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 12:19:16 GMT
Did he go to a private hospital or a NHS one? The NHS would not refuse treatment til money is handed over, it's a free service.
ETA I find the whole story a little shonky tbh.
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Deleted
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May 11, 2024 11:30:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 12:24:39 GMT
Nope, wouldn't happen. I agree with Lainey.
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craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Aug 25, 2015 12:27:23 GMT
Yeah...another UK pea who reckons this is odd.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Aug 25, 2015 12:46:03 GMT
So do they reside in the UK?
I know I was surprised when I moved there.. albeit like 17 years ago.. that I was fully covered by the NHS from day 1.
As a non resident you don't have free access to the NHS. I know that is true for UK Citizens living abroad, as well as visitors.
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Post by gar on Aug 25, 2015 12:48:42 GMT
It'd be interesting to know the name of the hospital. And 'blood cancer' obviously isn't the medical term so is that what Dad is calling it?
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Post by metaldancer on Aug 25, 2015 12:52:36 GMT
Yeah, it all sounded just a bit not right to me too...I can't remember the name of the hospital - gonna see if I can find that out. Dad was calling it "blood cancer". The whole situation just sounded wrong.
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Post by gillyp on Aug 25, 2015 13:17:16 GMT
I seem to recall seeing a story in a newspaper a few weeks ago about a child who was refused treatment until a fee had been paid. I didn't think it was a surgical procedure but I didn't pay much attention as I was busy and just quickly flicking through. Chemotherapy is ringing a very muted bell, though.
I am not remotely au fait with how the NHS works with people visiting/working in the UK. Would comprehensive care be provided and the hospital deals with the patient's medical insurers, assuming there they have one?
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 25, 2015 13:34:13 GMT
Not buying this one. You haven't got the full story here.
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Post by jennyap on Aug 25, 2015 14:55:17 GMT
If he is non- resident, and visiting for less than 6 months, most treatment will be chargeable. However, only non-urgent treatment would be denied until payment was made. Limits can also be placed on urgent (but not immediately necessary) treatment so where it is possible to stabilise a condition until the patient is able to return home for further treatment that can be done. There is a lot of detail missing from the story, but it isn't entirely implausible: if the 'blood cancer' is one where a delay in providing surgery would not worsen the prognosis if other (cheaper!) stabilising treatment could be given in the meantime until the child is due to return to the US then that is what the NHS guidance would recommend I believe. If you're really interested, chapter 8 of this guidance sets out when treatment should be given for those not eligible for free care. ETA visitors are advised to have travel insurance to cover such medical expenses |
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Deleted
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May 11, 2024 11:30:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 16:38:48 GMT
I have to wonder if they had any type of travel medical insurance or health insurance through his company that would cover the expenses? Most companies in the US treat their ex-pats (working in other countries) very well and would have thought through any type of health insurance coverage needed while on assignment. Now if he went over there as a contractor, it might have been his responsibility to know what was and was not covered and make sure he had personal coverage for him and his family. If he was expecting his US health insurance coverage to cover it, many do not.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090 
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Post by scrapaddie on Aug 27, 2015 16:29:52 GMT
Surgery for a' loos cancer'.....not buying the story either
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 11, 2024 11:30:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 16:39:32 GMT
Not buying this story OP. jennyap has got it spot on for non UK residents. They should have health insurance in the same way as we would be expected to have it for visiting any other country. Our NHS isn't free to the whole world and in actual fact isn't free to us either......we pay for it through out taxes but we don't pay our taxes to treat the rest of the world's population!! |
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,178
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Aug 27, 2015 16:40:37 GMT
How can you have 'mild' Down's syndrome? You either have it or you don't! And I'm another one who isn't buying the story.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 11, 2024 11:30:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 16:47:02 GMT
I'm sure it's because of Obamacare.  On a serious note, I'm not a UK pea, but the story is hinky to me as well. Surely he didn't take three kids abroad, including one with special needs, without figuring out insurance and how to access healthcare as a foreigner? What does his company say? |
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BarbaraUK
Drama Llama
Surrounded by my yarn stash on the NE coast of England...............!! Refupea 1702
Posts: 5,961
Location: England UK
Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Aug 27, 2015 17:09:33 GMT
Not buying this story OP. jennyap has got it spot on for non UK residents. They should have health insurance in the same way as we would be expected to have it for visiting any other country. Our NHS isn't free to the whole world and in actual fact isn't free to us either......we pay for it through out taxes but we don't pay our taxes to treat the rest of the world's population!! Yes, exactly that! Our NHS is only free for UK citizens at the point of delivery - we pay for it through taxes and other payments each month when working. However, we do not ask non residents for insurance details immediately they arrive at Emergency Departments either when they just drop in or arrive by ambulance....Doctors see patients as they arrive and are booked in and any insurance details for non residents are taken at some point in the process if necessary. I'm also definitely not buying the story as it stands, there's got to be more to it! |
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